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Liquefaction efficiency study of heterogeneous condensation of methane-ethane binary gas mixtures with different component contents

Author

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  • Du, Yifan
  • Liu, Le
  • Han, Hui
  • Liu, Liang
  • Cui, Jiachen
  • Li, Yuxing
  • Zhu, Jianlu
  • Liu, Miaoer

Abstract

Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons. During the liquefaction of natural gas, the mixed gas undergoes heterogeneous condensation on the surface of the heat exchanger. Currently, the heterogeneous condensation mechanism of mixed gases is not fully understood, and the influence of component content on the liquefaction efficiency is not clear. Therefore, the molecular dynamics simulation was employed to investigate the heterogeneous condensation process of methane-ethane binary mixed gas on a solid surface. The characteristics of condensation nucleation cluster growth was explored and the variations in temperature, density, heat flux, and liquefaction rate were analyzed. The impact of ethane on methane condensation was also discussed. The results indicate that increasing wettability enhances surface nucleation quantity and shortens nucleation time, resulting in a 3.6- times increase in heat flux. The addition of ethane gas in the system promotes condensation nucleation, which increases the liquefaction rate by 60 % when x = 20 % compared to the pure methane system. However, for methane gas, ethane only benefits the liquefaction of methane molecules in the initial nucleation stage. As the mixture in the system enters the cluster growth stage, component migration in the mixed gas leads to a lower liquefaction rate compared to pure methane gas.

Suggested Citation

  • Du, Yifan & Liu, Le & Han, Hui & Liu, Liang & Cui, Jiachen & Li, Yuxing & Zhu, Jianlu & Liu, Miaoer, 2024. "Liquefaction efficiency study of heterogeneous condensation of methane-ethane binary gas mixtures with different component contents," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:306:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224023387
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.132564
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lin, Wensheng & Xiong, Xiaojun & Gu, Anzhong, 2018. "Optimization and thermodynamic analysis of a cascade PLNG (pressurized liquefied natural gas) process with CO2 cryogenic removal," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 870-877.
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    3. Zhang, Weilong & Cheng, Min & Zhu, Xun & Ding, Yudong & Liao, Qiang, 2024. "Experimental research on condensation flow and heat transfer characteristics of immiscible binary mixed vapors on different wettability wall surfaces," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    4. Wang, Yue & Wang, Zhaoxi & Wang, Bingbing & Bian, Jiang & Hua, Yihuai & Cai, Weihua, 2023. "Heterogeneous nucleation condensation of methane gas on the wall-A molecular dynamics study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
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    1. Zhang, Tongjia & Rong, Xiaoran & Zhang, Bowei & Wei, Yimeng & Zhang, Jie & Wei, Wenwen & Jin, Hui, 2025. "Condensation and nucleation of water vapor in H2–CO–CH4–CO2 multicomponent mixtures: molecular insight into gas–liquid separation from supercritical water gasification products," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).

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